Council Ready To Move Forward On Proposal To Harvest Trees

Paul Eriksson, a natural resource technician, provided the Cumberland Mayor and City Council with an update on a proposal to harvest about 62 acres of pulpwood and sawtimber stands at lakes Koon and Gordon. A stand was described as a manageable piece of the overall forest. The stands are composed of pine trees and, if harvested, would be clear-cut. Eriksson said there has been at least a 10 percent increase in the tree mortality rate. While the council is ready to move forward, at least one resident voiced strong opposition to the plan. Kenneth Wilmot, a frequent attendee at city meetings, stressed the importance of the forest and said he was opposed to the idea of timbering saying it would cause long term damage and destroy the area. Mayor Brian Grim disagreed…